Lamp shade and lamp



June 1956 D. D. SMITH 2,752,482

LAMP SHADE AND LAMP Filed Jan. 29, 1953 INVENTOR.

DALE D. 5114/ TH,

77' ENE},-

United States Patent LAMP SHADE AND LAMP Dale D. Smith, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Harley Earl, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Application January 29, 1953, Serial No. 334,010

Claims. (Cl. 240108) The present invention relates to lamp shades and to lamps embodying shades.

An object of the present invention is to provide improved collapsible lamp shades and lamps, which can be at least partially dismantled for shipping or storage purposes, thereby greatly reducing the space required, the size of cartons or other packages containing the shades or lamps, and the character of the cartons or other packages, which need not necessarily be designed to withstand substantial crushing forces.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shade portion of a lamp, in which the lamp shading material can be retained separate from the shade frame, and in substantially flat form, prior to its assembly on the frame, thereby greatly reducing the required storage and shipping space.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lamp shade or lamp embodying sectional shade material which inherently tends to hold itself in appropriate assembled relation on the shade frame.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lamp shade embodying sectional lamp enclosing material which can be easily assembled on and removed from the shade frame. In a more limited sense, the invention contemplates a lamp shade of the character indicated, which enables the shade sections to be easily removed, cleaned and replaced on the frame. In addition, each section can be made of a material enabling it to be reversed or used inside out, by virtue of which the provision of different colors on each side of a shade section permits the selective presentation of two different colors on the outside of the shade itself when assembled on the frame.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a lamp shade or lamp, in which substantially all hand work is eliminated in fabricating the shade. The making of the shade material in sections and its mode of assembly on the shade frame enables the sections to be die cut, thus achieving great accuracy in the production'of the parts. More specifically, the sections preferably assume a flat form prior to assembly on the frame, allowing the sections of material to be stacked and a multiplicity of sections cut in one operation.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly ap parent from a consideration of several forms in which it may be embodied. Such forms are shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is an isometric projection of a lamp and lamp shade embodying the invention, with parts broken away i to disclose interior portions of the device; i

2,752,482 Patented June 26, 1956 Fig. 2 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the lamp and lamp shade disclosed in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken along the line 33 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a fiat shade section prior to its assembly on the shade frame;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section illustrating the manner of securing theshade frame on the lamp upright;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational and cross-sectional view of a modified form of lamp shade, assembled on a lamp member.

In the form of invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, a lamp is provided which consists of a base 10, of any suitable form, from which an upright member 11 extends. The upper end of the upright carries a socket 12, capable of receiving the usual incandescent lamp bulb 13.

Secured directly to the upright 11 of the lamp is the lamp shade 14. This shade includes a frame comprising longitudinally spaced upper and lower ring shaped or annular members 15, 16, although the upper member 15 need not have a central hole through it. The lower ring 16 is secured to the upright in any suitable manner. As specifically disclosed, the upright 11 consists of a central tubular rod 17 that extends completely through the lamp structure, on the upper end of which the socket 12 is secured. A lower tubular member 18 surrounds the rod 17, and bears against the upper portion of the lamp base 10. The ring 16 rests upon this lower tubular member 18, and, in turn, supports an upper tubular member 19 which extends between the socket 12 and the ring 16. When the usual nut (not shown) is threaded on the lower end of the hollow rod 17 at the lower portion of the lamp base 10, the upper and lower tubular members 19, 18 are urged toward one another, clamping the lower ring 16 securely therebetween, and thereby supporting the frame of the lamp shade.

The frame includes a plurality of shade supporting members or sections 20a. Each of these sections may be formed with upper and lower bars 21, 22 extending laterally or radially from the upper and lower rings 15, 16, respectively. As an example, the inner ends of the upper and lower bars 21, 22 may be inserted snugly within radial holes (not shown) in the rings. The upper and lower bars 21, 22 of each frame section are interconnected by a longitudinal bar portion 23, which serves to support the upper bar 21 from the lower bar 22. As disclosed in the drawings, the upper and lower bars 21, 22 are integral ,with the longitudinal bar 23, the bars 21, 22 being formed'by bending them inwardly with respect to the interconnecting longitudinal bar 23.

As disclosed, the bars 21, 22 of each frame section are disposed generally radially of the coaxial upper and lower ring members 15, 16. The frame sections 20a are preferably circumferentially spaced equi-angularly around the rings, although the number of frame sections and their angular relationship can be varied, depending upon the particular design of frame desired. As disclosed, there are three frame sections 20a disposed degrees from each other, and all of the frame sections are identical with one another in size and shape.

The upper and lower bars 21, 22 of each section 20a possess the required length, so as to place the longitudinal bars 23 the desired lateral or radial distance from the upright 11 and away from the incandescent lamp 13 carried in the socket 12.

The shade covering the incandescent lamp 13 is made of sections 24, in order to facilitate its manufacture and its assembly on the frame. It is preferred to make each section 24 of theshade of sheet material that is flexible,

and which inherently tends to straighten out so as to as- 3 sume a relatively flat form. Each section 24 has a length that is substantially greater than the distance between a pair of longitudinal bars 23, so that, when the marginal portions of each section are attached to the bars 23, in the manner described hereinbelow, the section is caused to assume a curved form, such as disclosed in thedrawings.

The material of which each shade section 24' is made may vary. For example, it may be a textile fabric, a sheet of synthetic resin material, such as a vinyl resin, or a laminated material.

Each section 24 is preferably made of a height which is substantially equal to or greater than the length of the longitudinal bar 23, in order that the frame member might not project above or below the shade sections. The side marginal portions 25 of each section are provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes or openings 26 that conform in spacing to transverse retaining members or pins 27 disposed in longitudinally spaced relation to one another along the length of each longitudinal bar 23, the pins extending transversely in opposite directions from each bar and being secured to the latter. Each section 24 may be formed or bent into a curved shape, and the pins 27 extending in one direction from one of the bars 23 inserted in the marginal holes 26 at one side 25 of the section. The pins 27 of an adjacent bar 23 are then inserted through the marginal holes 26 at the other side of the section. Following insertion of the pins 27 in the holes 26 of both marginal portions 25, the restraining force on the section 24 is released, and, in view of its inherent tendency to straighten out, its marginal portions 25 are urged in opposite directions away from one another and against the longitudinal bars 23, thereby retaining the marginal portions of the shade section on the pins. The other shade sections 24 are mounted between the other longitudinal bars 23 in the same manner, the pins 27 that project from a pair of bars 23 toward each other being received in the marginal holes 26 in each section 24, until all of the shade sections are in place, to complete the lamp shade.

The shade sections 24 may have various forms. As disclosed in the drawings, the shade sections 24, when mounted on the frame, have their outer surfaces 30 taperingin an upward and inward direction. Accordingly, each section, when in a flat form, is cut with its side edges 31 tapering upwardly toward each other and with its lower and upper edges 32, 33 preferably parallel to one another (Fig. 4.). Accordingly, when the section is curved into the form shown in the drawings, the side marginal portions 25 will be disposed in vertical fashion adjacent the longitudinal or vertical bars 23, the upper and lower edges 33, 32 will be parallel to one another, but the exterior 30 of the shade section will occupy an upwardly tapering shape, particularly at the portions disposed the greater radial distance outwardly from the axis of the lamp and of the upper and lower ring members 15, 16. Of course, if the side marginal edges 31 are made vertical and parallel to each other, then the exterior surface 30 of each shade section will likewise be disposed vertically.

The material of which each shade section is made is preferably such that the section can be flexed or curved in either direction. Thus, the opposite surfaces of each shade section 24 can be made of different colors, and the external color of the lamp shade can thereby be varied selectively merely by removing each shade section and curving it in the opposite direction, whereupon it is remounted on the transverse pins 27 extending from the longitudinal bars 23 of the frame. For that matter, one section can be made of colors that are dilferent from other sections, and these colors can be different on the opposite surfaces of each section, thereby enabling the external coloring of the shade to be varied to a considerable extent.

In view of the fact that each shade section 24, when removed from the lamp frame, assumes a straight form, it can be cleaned very easily, as by the application of a cloth to its flat surface. It is unnecessary to attempt cleaning of the lamp shade while it is mounted on the frame. Following the cleaning, it is readily replaced on the frame.

In addition to the ease with which it can be cleaned, the cost of manufacturing the shade is greatly reduced. In view of the fiat form that each section 24 assumes, it can be manufactured by' a die cutting operation, a multiplicity of sections being fabricated in a single operation by stacking the material of the sections upon each other. The lamp shade 14 itself is easily manufactured at an economical price, inasmuch as substantially no hand work is necessary in placing the material 24 on the frame. It is only necessary to place the marginal portions 25 of each section on the transverse retaining pins 27 extending toward each other from a pair of longitudinal bars 23, to produce the curved form disclosed, which is an outwardly convex one.

The fact that the shade sections 24 are readily removable and assemblable on the frame enables the sections to be shipped or stored in their flat form. It is not necessary to ship a complete shade, which would occupy a considerable space, and which would necessitate special packaging in order to protect the shade from deformation and damage. The shade sections 24 can be packed in their flat form, stacked one upon the other, the frame of the shade being properly packed. Since the lateral distance occupied by the shade frame itself is much less than the outward proiection of the shade sections 24 when mounted on the frame, it is evident that a shade frame can be packed into a much smaller space than a completely assembled shade itself. Thus, the packing and storage of the shade is greatly simplified, the shade occupying a much lesser space and requiring the use of cartons, and the like, of much smaller size. Accordingly, great economies in the handling and marketing of the lamp shades are accomplished.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Fig. 6, the lamp shade 14a is made readily separable from the lamp itself. Thus, the lamp may be provided with the usual harp or supporting member 40 attached to its upright 11a, and this supporting member has the usual upper stem 41 on which a knurled retaining nut 42 is threaded. The lower ring 16a of the shade frame may be increased considerably in diameter over that disclosed in Fig. 1, for freedom of disposition over the harp 40 when mounting the shade on the lamp itself. The upper ring 15a has a hole 43 of a size adapted to receive the threaded stem 41 extending upwardly from the harp 40.

The shade 14a disclosed in Fig. 6 can be disposed over the harp 40, with its upper ring 15a mounted on the threaded stem 41, whereupon the retaining nut 42 is threaded on the stem to bear against the upper surface of the upper ring member 1511. The shade itself may be constructed in essentially the same manner as disclosed and described in connection with the other form of the invention. The shade shown in Fig. 6 can be used as a replacement for shades of conventional form, and need not necessarily have its frame formed as an essentially permanent portion of the lamp itself, such as disclosed in Fig. l.

The inventor claims:

1. In a lamp: a supporting upright; a lamp shade frame having upper and lower central members, one of said members being secured to said upright, sets of upper and lower bars secured to and extending laterally from said upper and lower members, respectively, a longitudinally extending bar secured to and extending between the outer ends of the upper and lower bars of each set; longitudinally spaced pins extending transversely from each longitudinally extending bar; and outwardly convex shade sections disposed between said longitudinally extending bars, each shade section having marginal holes corresponding in spacing to that of said pins and receiving said pins to secure each section in convex fashion to said longitudinally extending bars.

2. A lamp shade comprising a pair of vertically spaced hub members, a plurality of equiangularly spaced U-shaped supporting strips each having generally horizontally extending opposite end portions secured to said hub members, and a generally vertically extending intermediate portion, a plurality of horizontally disposed pins secured to and spaced along said intermediate portion of each of said strips, and a plurality of resilient shade sections formed of sheet material and each having a plurality of attaching apertures each adapted to receive one of said pins, said shade sections being inriividual to and received in the spaces between the adjacent pairs of said strips and having a normal free shape prior to assembly which is such that each shade section must be resiliently loaded in moving said apertures thereof over said pins during attachment of said shade sections to said supporting strips.

3. A lamp shade comprising a pair of spaced hub members, a plurality of equiangularly spaced U-shaped supporting strips having their opposite ends secured to said hub members, a plurality of attaching projections on each of said strips projecting laterally therefrom at opposite sides thereof, a plurality of shade sections tending to assume a flat shape when in free condition and having a plurality of apertures along opposite marginal portions thereof each adapted to receive one of said proiections, said shade sections when in assembled position being disposed one between each adjacent pair of said strips and being held in curved shape by the engagement therewith of said projections received in said apertures.

4. A lamp shade comprising a frame having a centrally disposed mounting member adapted to support said shade on a lamp, a plurality of angularly spaced shade section supporting members carried by said mounting member and including generally vertically extending portions, a plurality of attaching pins carried by each of said vertically extending portions of said supporting members and projecting from opposite sides thereof, a plurality of shade sections disposed one between each adjacent pair of said supporting members, said shade sections having a plurality of apertures individual to and receiving said pins on said supporting members for releasably attaching said shade sections to said supporting members.

5. A lamp shade comprising a frame including a hub and a plurality of shade section supporting strips secured at one end to said hub and each including a generally horizontally extending portion adjacent said one end extending radially outwardly from said hub and a generally vertically extending portion continuous with said horizontal portion, adjacent pairs of said strips defining angular spaces therebetween, a plurality of shade sections individual to and disposed in said spaces between adjacent pairs of said strips and co-operating pin and aperture attaching means on said strips and said shade sections for releasably attaching said shade sections to said strips, said shade sections yieldably maintaining said pin and aperture attaching means in operative relation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 369,737 Ray Sept. 13, 1887 1,708,714 Adamaitis Apr. 9, 1929 1,923,555 Provenzano Aug. 22, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS 420,852 Germany Nov. 2, 1925 653,645 Great Britain May 23, 1951 

